Stoke City have announced that Paul Lambert has been appointed as the club’s new manager.

The former Aston Villa boss has agreed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Potters.

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates said: ‘Paul greatly impressed us with his knowledge of our squad and had a clear plan of how he would improve our results.

‘He’s a man who backed himself as a player, none more so than when he turned down contract offers in Scotland to go on trial in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, and it’s obvious he adopts the same approach as a manager.’

Lambert takes on the role amid reports he will be in line for a hefty bonus if he can keep Stoke City in the Premier League.

His most recent role was in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers before he parted company with them at the end of last season. During his brief stint in charge he took them from 19th in the Championship to a 15th place finish.

His last role in the Premier League was with Aston Villa, where he spent nearly three years before being dismissed with the club in the relegation zone. In the two previous seasons Villa finished 15th.